Process for preparing acidified bread dough

ABSTRACT

Acidified bread dough suitable for preparing sour dough bread may be prepared by incorporating into a dough containing baker&#39;&#39;s yeast an effective amount of fumaric acid coated with an edible material. The coating has a melting point temperature higher than normal proofing temperatures but within the range of normal baking temperatures.

United States Patent [19] Dockendorf et al.

[ Nov. 25, 1975 PROCESS FOR PREPARING ACIDIFIED BREAD DOUGH Inventors: William G. Dockendorf, Stamford;

Harold Gross, Norwalk, both of Conn.

Assignee: Standard Brands Incorporated, New

York, N.Y.

Filed: Apr. 19, 1974 Appl. N0.: 462,473

US. Cl. 426/25; 426/62; 426/96;

426/99 Int. Cl. A2lD 2/14; A21D 10/00 Field of Search 426/25, 62, 96, 99

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,734,748 5/1973 Veno et a1. 426/25 X Primary Examiner-James R. Hoffman [57] ABSTRACT 9' Claims, N0 Drawings PROCESS FOR PREPARING ACIDIFIED BREAD DOUGH THE INVENTION This invention relates to a process for preparing yeast leavened bread dough having an acidity higher than conventional bread dough and suitable for preparing sour dough bread. More particularly, this invention re- 1 lates to a process for producing acidified bread dough in which a coated acidulent is provided which does not substantially adversely affect the leavening activity of the yeast.

Breads having a distinctive sour or acid taste have been produced for many years by the so-called sourdough method. Basic to this method is the addition to a freshly prepared dough mixture of a minor proportion of a starter comprising a mixture of flour and water which has been allowed to develop or ripen over a period of hours or days. Frequently, in commercial bakery practice a portion of a batch of prepared sour dough is set aside and used as a starter for the next days production of sour dough.

The function of the starter is to provide leavening, acidification and flavor to the sour dough. Microorganisms indigenous to flour and air-borne microorganisms which adventitiously infect the flour proliferate in the flour and water mixture. Among these microorganisms have been identified certain yeasts and lactic acid bacteria which reportedly are responsible for the above noted effects. The indigenous yeasts which provide the leavening action are more resistant to high acidity levels than is conventional bakers yeast. While sour dough bread may be prepared without the addition of bakers yeast, such is sometimes added to the dough shortly before baking to provide additional leavening action. In recent years, bacterial cultures have become available which may be used in the sour dough method in place of a naturally developed starter.

In modern bakery practice, the sponge and dough method is commonly used to prepare bread dough. In this method a portion of the flour, usually somewhat more than half of the total flour required for the amount of bread desired, is combined with water and bakers yeast and set aside for a number of hours until the dough is well leavened. This preparation or sponge is then combined with the remainder of the flour and other ingredients of the dough. In preparing sour bread dough by traditional methods, the sponge is set aside for a number of hours to allow microorganisms hopefully in the flour and in the environment to proliferate in the sponge in order that the products of their metabolism may affect leavening and acidification of the dough. To achieve sufficient leavening and acidification may require as long as 24 to 48 hours. The sponge is then combined with the remainder of the dough ingredients and the complete dough is allowed to ferment over a period of at least several hours before being shaped into loaves.

In a more modern process for preparing sour dough, a small quantity of well aged dough from a previous batch of sour dough is combined with flour, water and other dough ingredients. This mixture is then set aside for about 15 hours to allow fermentation to occur.

There are a number of processes described in the art relating to the preparation of sour dough and products prepared therefrom. US. Pat. No. 3,734,743 to Kline et al. discloses a process for preparing sour dough French bread wherein a prepared culture of viable cells of sour dough yeast and lactic acid bacteria is inoculated into a mixture of dough ingredients. This process requires a sponge development time of 7 to 8 hours. US. Pat. No. 2,875,280 to Williams et al. relates to a process for making sour dough pancake batter wherein a mixture of pancake batter ingredients is inoculated with bacteria and yeast cells. Canadian Pat. No. 868,302 relates to a process for producing yeast leavened baked goods by the sour dough method. According to this process, the addition of cysteine-N-carbamide as an activator substantially reduced blending time for obtaining a consistent dough. Canadian Pat. No. 528,622 discloses a leavening agent for raising and souring dough comprising yeast and acid forming bacteria. In an article in Bakers Digest, Vol. 40, pp. 77-80 (1966) a process is described for preparing rye bread by a so-called short sour dough method. In this method, a starter is added to a portion of the dough ingredients and the mixture is held at F for 3 hours to ripen the same before it is combined with the remainder of the dough ingredients.

There are a number of disadvantages associated with traditional methods for preparing sour dough. These methods are largely empirical and, as a result, adequate control of leavening activity and degree of acidification of the dough are difficult to control. These parameters are thus subject to considerable variability not only between batches of sour dough but also between sour doughs prepared by traditional methods in different geographical areas. For example, it apparently has not been possible to duplicate the highly esteemed San Francisco sour dough bread in all areas of the United States due, possibly, to differences in indigenous microbial populations.

In most prior art processes for preparing acidified dough, the acidity required to impart a distinctive acid taste to sour dough bread has largely precluded the use of bakers yeast since such acidity is detrimental to the yeast. As noted above, bakers yeast is sometimes incorporated into sour dough prepared by conventional methods shortly before the dough is baked, thus shortening the time during which the acid provided by the starter is in contact with the yeast. I-Iigh acidity levels in the dough during proofing thereof may also adversely affect the gluten of the dough and result in unsatisfactory bread volume and texture.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a process for preparing acidified bread dough containing bakers yeast.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a process for preparing acidified bread dough which may be baked to provide sour dough bread.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a process for preparing acidified bread dough suitable for preparing sour dough bread which does not require lengthy fermentation or proofing time.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a process for preparing acidified bread dough without the use of a starter or a starter culture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a product suitable for preparing acidifed bread dough wherein acidification is provided by an effective amount of fumaric acid coated with an edible material.

These objects, and other objects which will be apparent from the following, are achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing in a dough suit- 3 able for producing yeast leavened sour dough bread an effective amount of fumaric acid coated with an edible material to acidify the dough without substantially adversely effecting the leavening activity of the yeast, said ity desired in the finished bread. In general, breads having the characteristic flavor and aroma of sour dough bread will have a titratable acidity in the range of from about 4 to about 5. Titratable acidity is defined as a coating having a melting point temperature higher than 5 measure of the free acid in the bread and is expressed normal proofing temperatures but within the range of as the number of milliliter of 0.15N NaOH required to normal baking temperatures. increase the pH of a percent aqueous suspension of In the present process, the prepared dough is shaped the bread to 6.6. The pH of a 10 percent aqueous susinto loaves and set aside to proof for about 1 hour. Durpension of sour dough bread should preferably be in ing this period the bulk of the yeast leavening activity 10 the range of from about 3.5 to 4.5. and increase in dough volume are effectuated. Such A number of coated acids were investigated for use relatively short proofing time demonstrates a major adas acidulents in the present process. When coated fuvantage of the present process for producing sour maric, adipic or citric acid were incorporated into suitdough bread over other processes wherein lenghty able doughs, the dough containing coated fumaric acid proofing times are required. Generally, in commercial 5 produced bread most characteristic of sour dough bakeries, proofing is carried out at a temperature in the bread. Breads produced from dough containing coated range of from about 1 10 to 120F while in home bakadipic or citric acids were less satisfactory, particularly ing procedures, bread dough is generally proofed at a in terms of their appearance and texture. temperature in the range of from about 80 to 85F. At In order to more clearly describe the nature of the home, bread is baked at an oven temperature of about present invention, specific examples will hereafter be 400F while in commercial bakeries, the oven temperadescribed. It should be understood, however, that this ture may be as high as 500F. is done solely by way of example and is intended nei- The coating is substantially unaffected at normal ther to delineate the scope of the invention nor limit proofing temperatures so that the fumaric acid does not the ambit of the appended claims. contact the yeast until the dough is baked. In the preparation of bread dough, the ingredients undergo a con- EXAMPLE 1 siderable amount of mixing. Kneading of dough is, of This Example illustrates the use of coated fumaric course, a particularly effective way of effecting such acid to acidify dough suitable for producing sour dough mixing. In the present process, the coated particles of bread. fumaric acid are substantially evenly distributed A series of doughs suitable for preparing French throughout the dough as a result of such mixing or bread each comprising about 200 grams of flour and kneading. Thus, when the fumaric acid is freed of its 1 1.6 grams of active dry yeast were acidified with two coating during baking of the dough, acidic or sour fladifferent levels of fumaric acid coated with vegetable vor is essentially evenly distributed throughout the fat having a melting point of 125 F and two different dough and the bread prepared therefrom. The acidic levels of sodium diacetate. The doughs were shaped flavor and aroma of sour dough bread may be auginto loaves which were proofed at 86 F and then baked merited and a characteristic vinegar-like flavor imin an oven at 400F. Included for comparison purposes parted thereto by providing in the dough a source of in the data shown in Table I, below, are values deteracetic acid such as sodium diacetate. The amount of mined for a commercial sour French bread.

TABLE I SOUR FRENCH BREAD Titratablc Dough Acidity Coated Sodium Proof Time Specific 10% Suspension Dough Fumaric Acid* Diacctatc at 86F Volume pH of 10% ml. of 0.15N Sample '71 on Flour '7 on Flour minutcs ml./gram Suspension NaOH to pH 6.6

1 0.413 0.0424 50.0 4.15 4.05 3.60 2 0.413 0.0424 65.0 4.18 3.90 4.78 3 0.621 0.0424 65.2 4.21 3.80 4.74 4 0.621 0.0828 75.0 4.00 3.90 4.81 Commercial Sour French 4.70 4.25 4.31

Bread *Cap-Shurc Fumaric 125, Balchcm Corp. Slate Hill. New York (contains about 87% fumaric acid) acetic acid provided should not, of course, be such as to detrimentally affect the yeast.

The edible material with which the fumaric acid is coated should be such that the coating remains substantially intact during proofing of the dough but melts within the range of normal baking temperatures. Such material must, of course, be compatible with the other dough ingredients and melt at a temperature higher than normal proofing temperatures, preferably at a melting point temperature of above about 125F. Exemplary of such materials are vegetable fat, gelatin and vegetable gums.

The amount of fumaric acid incorporated into the dough will, in general, depend upon the degree of acid- From the above data, it is apparent that sour French bread prepared from dough containing fat coated fumaric acid was comparable in specific volume and acidity to commercial sour French bread. The experimental breads were considered to have the characteristic flavor and aroma of sour French bread.

EXAMPLE II melting points of 125 and 165F., respectively. To other doughs in the series were added equivalent amounts of adipic and citric acids, each coated with fat having a melting point of 125F. A dough containing '6 baking temperatures, the amount of coatedfumaric acid being sufficient to provide a titratable acidity of from about 4 to about 5 in the; bread when the dough is baked.

0.621 percent of uncoated fumaric acid served as con- 5 2. A process for preparing acidified bread dough as trol. All doughs contained 0.0424 percent sodium diacdefined in claim 1, wherein fumaric acid is coated with etate based on flour. The acidified doughs were shaped, an edible material having a melting point temperature proofed and baked as described in Example I. The reof above about 125F. sults are shown in Table II and Table III below. 3. A process for preparing acidified bread dough as Table II shows that doughs containing coated fumaric defined in claim 2, wherein the fumaric acid is coated and adipic acids proofed satisfactorily while doughs with an edible material selected from the group consistcontaining uncoated fumaric acid and coated citric ing of vegetable fat, gelatin and vegetable gums. acid failed to proof satisfactorily. 4. A process for preparing acidified bread dough as The data in Table III demonstrate that of the acids defined in claim 3, wherein the fumaric acid is coated tested, coated fumaric acid was most suitable for acidiwith vegetable fat. fying sour dough. Bread prepared from dough contain- 5. A process for preparing acidified bread dough as ing coated adipic' acid was unsatisfactory in regard to defined in claim 2, wherein the yeast used to leaven the crust color while bread prepared from dough containdough is active dry yeast. ing coated citric acid was unsatisfactory in regard to 6. A process for preparing acidified bread dough as both crust color and grain. 3O defined in claim 5, wherein the amount of fumaric acid TABLE ll SOUR FRENCH BREAD Titratable Acidity lOVr Melting Fat Coated Dough Proof Suspension Point of Acidulent Time at 86F Weight Volume pH of lO'/' ml. of 0.15N Acidulent Fat "F '7( on Flour minutes grams ml. Suspension NaOl-l to pH 6.6

Fumaric Acid Not coated none 288 623 4.02 4.42 Fumaric Acid 125 0.621 61.3 290 978 3.95 5.00 Fumaric Acid 165 0.621 58.9 288 L038 4.09 4.68 Adipic A1a* 125 0.850 57.1 292 880 4.50 4.94 Citric Acid** 125 0.700 78.6 291 625 4.20 4.24

Cap-Shurc Fumaric 165. Balchcm Corp. Slate Hill. New York (containss about 877: fumaric acid) *Cap-Shure Adipic l25. Balchcm Corp. (contains about 8071 active adipic acid) 'Cap-Shurc Citric l25. Balehcm Corp. (contains about 857: active citric acid) ***Did not fully proof; gluten was runny TABLE III Evaluation of Breads Prepared from Doughs Containing Uncoatcd Fumaric Acid and Coated Fumaric. Adipic and Citric Acid Melting Point Acidulent of Fat F Crust Color Grain Taste Fumaric Acid not coated Yellowish-whitc. Very tight and gummy Good acid very mottled. bite Fumaric Acid 125 Golden brown Slightly tight, Good acid slightly gummy bite Fumaric Acid l65 Golden brown Slightly tight. Good acid slightly gummy bite Adipic Acid I Brown. speckled Slightly tight. Moderate with dark brown slightly gummy acid bite spots Citric Acid [25 Yellowish-white. Very tight and grainy Strong acid mottled taste amount of fumaric acid coated with an edible material to acidify the dough without substantially adversely affecting the leavening activity of the yeast, said coating having a melting point temperature higher than normal proofing temperatures but within the range of normal incorporated into the dough is sufficient to provide a pH of from about 3.5 to about 4.5 in bread produced from the acidified dough.

7. A process for preparing acidified bread dough as defined in claim 2, wherein the acidified dough contains a source of acetic acid.

8. Acidified bread dough suitable for producing sour dough bread comprising flour, bakers yeast and an effective amount of fumaric acid coated with an edible material to acidify the dough without substantially adversely affecting the leavening activity of the yeast, said coating having a melting point temperature higher than normal proofing temperatures but within the range of normal baking temperatures, the amount of coated fumaric acid being sufficient to provide a titratable acid- 8 acid is coated with an edible material having a melting point temperature of above about F.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFIQATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,922,350

DATED November 25, 1975 INVENTOR(S) William G. Dockendorf and Harold Gross It is certified that error appears in the ab0veidentitied patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title page, under References Cited; Veno et a1."

should read --Ueno et al.-.

Column 3, line l t; "lenght y'" should read --lengthy-.

Column t, line 31; "200" should read --622--.

Signed and Scaled this twentieth Day of April1976 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH c. MASON c. MARSHALLDANN Arlesling Ojl/icer Commissioner uj'larenrs and Trademarks 

1. A PROCESS FOR PREPARING ACIDIFIED BREAD DOUGH COMPRISING INCORPORATING INTO A DOUGH SUITABLE FOR PRODUCING YEAST LEAVENED SOUR DOUGH BREAD AN EFFECTIVE AMOUNT OF FUMARIC ACID OCATED WITH AN EDIBLE MATERIAL TO ACIDIFY THE DOUGH WITHOUT SUBSTANTIALLY ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE LEAVENING ACTIVITTY OF THE YEAST, SAID COATING HAVING A MELTING POINT TEMPERATURE HIHER THAN NORMAL PROOFING TEMPERATURES BUT WITHIN THE RANGE OF NORMAL BAKING TEMPERATURES, THE AMOUNT OF COATED FUMARIC ACID BEING SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE A TITRATABLE ACIDITY OF FROM ABOUT 4 TO ABOUT 5 IN THE BREAD WHEN THE DOUGH IS BAKED.
 2. A process for preparing acidified bread dough as defined in claim 1, wherein fumaric acid is coated with an edible material having a melting point temperature of above about 125*F.
 3. A process for preparing acidified bread dough as defined in claim 2, wherein the fumaric acid is coated with an edible material selected from the group consisting of vegetable fat, gelatin and vegetable gums.
 4. A process for preparing acidified bread dough as defined in claim 3, wherein the fumaric acid is coated with vegetable fat.
 5. A process for preparing acidified bread dough as defined in claim 2, wherein the yeast used to leaven the dough is active dry yeast.
 6. A process for preparing acidified bread dough as defined in claim 5, wherein the amount of fumaric acid incorporated into the dough is sufficient to provide a pH of from about 3.5 to about 4.5 in bread produced from the acidified dough.
 7. A process for preparing acidified bread dough as defined in claim 2, wherein the acidified dough contains a source of acetic acid.
 8. Acidified bread dough suitable for producing sour dough bread comprising flour, baker''s yeast and an effective amount of fumaric acid coated with an edible material to acidify the dough without substantially adversely affecting the leavening activity of the yeast, said coating having a melting point temperature higher than normal proofing temperatures but within the range of normal baking temperatures, the amount of coated fumaric acid being sufficient to provide a titratable acidity of from about 4 to about 5 in the bread when the dough is baked.
 9. Acidified bread dough suitable for producing sour dough bread as defined in claim 8, wherein the fumaric acid is coated with aN edible material having a melting point temperature of above about 125*F. 